Man, as a huge boxing fan, someone that's worked for a Youngstown bank for many years, knowing that area ... it has been nothing short of exhilirating watching Pavlik do what he's done.

Had always heard about Kelly as he was coming up the ranks. Never paid any attention at all really till I heard he beat Bronco McKart. Then ... the televised pummelings of the highly regarded Zertuche and Miranda. The two Taylor fights, first one being one of the best scraps of the year. Seeing how the Youngstown community has embraced him, and how, for the most part, riches and titles haven't changed him.

He's done stuff with both STO and my bank. Every person that comes in contact with the kid can do nothing but rave.

And Bert Sugar nails it in this piece ...

In a totally nonpolitically correct way of saying it: He’s white and a Midwestern kid,” said Bert Sugar, a longtime boxing journalist and analyst. “That gives him a constituency that a lot of other American fighters don’t have.”

In addition, Sugar said, “he has a great story; he’s wrapped himself in the fabric of his city and he’s a hero to Youngstown.”

“And we just don’t have heroes today,” he said. “For some reason, we’re out of the hero business.”

"It's like dating a woman who hates you so much she will never break up with you, even if you burn down the house every single autumn." ~ Chuck Klosterman on Browns fans relationship with the Browns

Man, as a huge boxing fan, someone that's worked for a Youngstown bank for many years, knowing that area ... it has been nothing short of exhilirating watching Pavlik do what he's done.

Had always heard about Kelly as he was coming up the ranks. Never paid any attention at all really till I heard he beat Bronco McKart. Then ... the televised pummelings of the highly regarded Zertuche and Miranda. The two Taylor fights, first one being one of the best scraps of the year. Seeing how the Youngstown community has embraced him, and how, for the most part, riches and titles haven't changed him.

He's done stuff with both STO and my bank. Every person that comes in contact with the kid can do nothing but rave.

And Bert Sugar nails it in this piece ...

In a totally nonpolitically correct way of saying it: He’s white and a Midwestern kid,” said Bert Sugar, a longtime boxing journalist and analyst. “That gives him a constituency that a lot of other American fighters don’t have.”

In addition, Sugar said, “he has a great story; he’s wrapped himself in the fabric of his city and he’s a hero to Youngstown.”

“And we just don’t have heroes today,” he said. “For some reason, we’re out of the hero business.”

Agreed. I grew up in Austintown, and these stories touch a little closer when you know what goes on in the Valley, how they're working hard to transform the city, etc.

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